Commodity Futures Trading Commission 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is reproposing rules to amend part 150 of the Commission's regulations concerning speculative position limits to conform to the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (``Dodd-Frank Act'') amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or ``Act''). The reproposal would establish speculative position limits for 25 exempt and agricultural commodity futures and option contracts, and physical commodity swaps that are ``economically equivalent'' to such contracts (as such term is used in section 4a(a)(5) of the CEA). In connection with establishing these limits, the Commission is reproposing to update some relevant definitions; revise the exemptions from speculative position limits, including for bona fide hedging; and extend and update reporting requirements for persons claiming exemption from these limits. The Commission is also reproposing appendices to part 150 that would provide guidance on risk management exemptions for commodity derivative contracts in excluded commodities permitted under the revised definition of bona fide hedging position; list core referenced futures contracts and commodities that would be substantially the same as a commodity underlying a core referenced futures contract for purposes of the definition of location basis contract; describe and analyze fourteen fact patterns that would satisfy the reproposed definition of bona fide hedging position; and present the reproposed speculative position limit levels in tabular form. In addition, the Commission proposes to update certain of its rules, guidance and acceptable practices for compliance with Designated Contract Market (``DCM'') core principle 5 and Swap Execution Facility (``SEF'') core principle 6 in respect of exchange-set speculative position limits and position accountability levels. Furthermore, the Commission is reproposing processes for DCMs and SEFs to recognize certain positions in commodity derivative contracts as non-enumerated bona fide hedges or enumerated anticipatory bona fide hedges, as well as to exempt from position limits certain spread positions, in each case subject to Commission review. Separately, the Commission is reproposing to delay for DCMs and SEFs that lack access to sufficient swap position information the requirement to establish and monitor position limits on swaps.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is proposing to adopt new regulations and to amend existing regulations to implement sections 4s(e) and (f) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA''), as added by section 731 of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act''). Section 4s(e) requires the Commission to adopt capital requirements for swap dealers (``SDs'') and major swap participants (``MSPs'') that are not subject to capital rules of a prudential regulator. Section 4s(f) requires the Commission to adopt financial reporting and recordkeeping requirements for SDs and MSPs. The Commission also is proposing to amend existing capital rules for futures commission merchants (``FCMs''), providing specific capital deductions for market risk and credit risk for swaps and security-based swaps entered into by an FCM. The Commission is further proposing several technical amendments to the regulations.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is amending certain of its regulations applicable to the financial reports that each person registered or required to be registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) must provide for each commodity pool that it operates. These amendments: Permit the use of additional alternative generally accepted accounting principles, standards or practices; provide relief from the Annual Report audit requirement under certain circumstances; and make clear that an audited Annual Report must be distributed and submitted at least once during the life of a pool.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is amending its regulations regarding the timing for furnishing to the Commission the chief compliance officer (``CCO'') annual reports of futures commission merchants (``FCMs''), swap dealers (``SDs''), and major swap participants (``MSPs'') (collectively, ``Registrants''). The Commission is also amending its regulations by delegating to the Director of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (``DSIO'') authority to grant extensions to the CCO annual report filing deadline.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announces that on November 17, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) will hold a public meeting at the CFTC's Washington, DC, headquarters. The meeting will be held in the Conference Center at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's headquarters in Washington, DC. At this meeting: (1) The CCP Risk Management Subcommittee (CRM) will present to the MRAC its final recommendations on how Central Counterparties (CCPs) can further enhance their efforts in preparing for the default of a significant clearing member as discussed at the April 2, 2015, November 2, 2015, and June 27, 2016 meetings of the MRAC; and (2) the MRAC will discuss the Bank of England's coordinated CCP default fire drill.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (``ICR'') abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission) is publishing this notice to announce the renewal of the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC). The Commission has determined that the renewal of the TAC is necessary and in the public's interest, and the Commission has consulted with the General Services Administration's Committee Management Secretariat regarding the TAC's renewal.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is publishing for public comment proposed rules and interpretations (``Proposed Rule'') addressing the cross-border application of certain swap provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA''). Specifically, the proposed rule defines key terms for purposes of applying the CEA's swap provisions to cross-border transactions and addresses the cross-border application of the registration thresholds and external business conduct standards for swap dealers and major swap participants, including the extent to which they would apply to swap transactions that are arranged, negotiated, or executed using personnel located in the United States.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is consolidating and revising several notices of systems of records under the Privacy Act of 1974. It is consolidating two system of records notices, CFTC-5, ``Employee Personnel/Payroll Records,'' and CFTC-4, ``Employee Leave, Time, and Attendance,'' into one, CFTC-5, ``Employee Personnel, Payroll, Time and Attendance,'' to reflect more integrated business processes and applications, and to be more descriptive of its contents and enhancements. The Commission also is consolidating three system of records notices, CFTC-34, ``Telecommunications Services,'' CFTC-35, ``Interoffice and Internet Email,'' and CFTC-36, ``Internet Security Gateway Systems,'' into one system of records notice, CFTC-35, entitled ``General Information Technology Records'' to reflect more integrated business processes and applications, and to be more descriptive of its contents and enhancements. The revised CFTC-35, ``General Information Technology Records,'' broadly covers the information in identifiable form needed for the CFTC information technology network to provide communications and operate effectively and securely.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (``ICR'') abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is adopting final rules amending its current system safeguards rules for designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories, by enhancing and clarifying current provisions relating to system safeguards risk analysis and oversight and cybersecurity testing, and adding new provisions concerning certain aspects of cybersecurity testing. The final rules clarify the Commission's current system safeguards rules for all designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories by specifying and defining the types of cybersecurity testing essential to fulfilling system safeguards testing obligations. These testing types are vulnerability testing, penetration testing, controls testing, security incident response plan testing, and enterprise technology risk assessment. The final rules also clarify current rule provisions respecting: The categories of risk analysis and oversight that statutorily-required programs of system safeguards- related risk analysis and oversight must address; system safeguards- related books and records obligations; the scope of system safeguards testing; internal reporting and review of testing results; and remediation of vulnerabilities and deficiencies. In addition, the final rules adopt new provisions set forth in the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, applicable to covered designated contract markets (as defined) and all swap data repositories, establishing minimum frequency requirements for conducting certain types of cybersecurity testing, and requiring performance of certain tests by independent contractors.

The following is the analysis and determination of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') regarding a request by the Japan Financial Services Agency (``JFSA'') that the Commission determine that laws and regulations applicable in Japan provide a sufficient basis for an affirmative finding of comparability with respect to margin requirements for uncleared swaps applicable to certain swap dealers (``SDs'') and major swap participants (``MSPs'') registered with the Commission. As discussed in detail herein, with one exception, the Commission has found the margin requirements for uncleared swaps under the laws and regulations of Japan comparable to those under the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') and Commission regulations.

On August 5, 2016, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (Proposal) to amend certain of its regulations applicable to the Annual Report that each person registered or required to be registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) must distribute for each commodity pool that it operates. As is explained below, the Commission is extending for two weeks the comment period for the Proposal.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is proposing to amend its regulations to enhance the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and to make related changes to clarify staff authority to administer the whistleblower program. The Commission also is reinterpreting its anti-retaliation authority and proposing appropriate rule amendments to implement that authority.

This release is the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') final response to the order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, et al. v. United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (``SIFMA v. CFTC''), remanding eight swaps-related rulemakings to the Commission to resolve what the court held to be inadequacies in the Commission's consideration of costs and benefits, or its explanation of its consideration of costs and benefits, in those rulemakings. In this release the Commission addresses cost-benefit issues raised and suggestions for rule changes made in comments submitted in response to the Commission's Initial Response to the remand order.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is amending its regulations to revise or repeal certain provisions related to the requirement that a derivatives clearing organization (``DCO'') obtain from a Federal Reserve Bank acting as a depository for customer funds a written acknowledgment that the Federal Reserve Bank was informed that the customer funds deposited therein are those of customers and are being held in accordance with Section 4d of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'').

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is proposing to amend certain of its regulations applicable to the Annual Report that each person registered or required to be registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) must distribute for each commodity pool that it operates (Proposal). Specifically, the Proposal addresses the use of additional alternative generally accepted accounting principles, standards or practices, and the Annual Report audit requirement where the first fiscal year of a pool consists of a period of three months or less from the date of formation of the pool.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden.